Antifungal susceptibility of Candida albicans isolated from oral mucosa of patients with cancer

the increasing number of oral infections due to opportunistic fungi in immunocompromised patients, needs a new evaluation of the drugs in use. the susceptibility in vitro of candida albicans strains from the oral mucosa of cancer patients to amphotericin b, ketoconazole, miconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole were evaluated. a dilution technique in ynb agar or subculture on sabouraud agar was utilised for mic or mfc determinations. with this methodology, the best fungicidal drug for c.albicans collected from the oral mucosa of 40 cancer patients, divided in two groups: one treated by radiotherapy and the other not, the best results were obtained with amphotericin b, presenting low values of mic compared to azoles and mfc values. however it is important to take into consideration the utilisation in vivo of this polyenic antibiotic and the possible toxic levels necessary to achieve good results. the coexistence of other fungi and the local conditions must also be pondered with these patients, who are mostly undergoing radiotherapy. in order to achieve better results without undesirable consequences, higher levels of mic are expected with the daily clinical use of new drugs.